Observation of the Crossover from Two-Gap to Single-Gap Superconductivity through Specific Heat Measurements in Neutron Irradiated MgB2

TL;DR

This study uses specific heat measurements to observe the transition from two-gap to single-gap superconductivity in neutron irradiated MgB2, revealing how superconducting properties evolve with defect-induced Tc suppression.

Contribution

It provides direct experimental evidence of the crossover from two-gap to single-gap superconductivity in MgB2 due to neutron irradiation.

Findings

Two-gap feature observed above 21 K.

Single-gap superconductivity established below 11 K.

Superconducting transition remains sharp despite Tc suppression.

Abstract

We report specific heat measurements in neutron irradiated MgB2 samples, for which the critical temperature has been suppressed down to 8.5 K, but the superconducting transition remains extremely sharp, indicative of a defect structure extremely homogeneous. Our results demonstrate that the two-gap feature is evident in the temperature range above 21 K, while the single-gap superconductivity is well established as a bulk property not associated to local disorder fluctuations when Tc is decreased down to 11 K.